Title: You Don’t Know
Genre: drama, romance (more on the friendzone thing)
Format: oneshot
Characters: original characters
Inspiration: I had this dream. And I’m gonna base it on that. This is going to be almost my dream. Yeah. But no. I’m not the guy.
He sat by the bench at the park waiting for Maria. He’s been waiting for her for a few minutes already. Maybe more than fifteen minutes from the supposed meeting time.
Junnie checked her text message again. I’m almost there, Junnie. Hehehe sorry. :3
Junnie shook his head. She’s probably gonna take a little while longer than expected. But to his surprise, she finally arrived at the moment he thought she wasn’t going to.
“Junnie!” Maria shouted as she ran towards his place. Maria was all smiles as she ran. She didn’t hide the fact that she’s guilty. She knows herself that she’s guilty, but knowing her friend, Maria knows Junnie won’t be angry at her just for this. Junnie doesn’t seem to get angry at anything anyway.
Junnie stood up from the bench and walked halfway towards Maria. “You’re late,” he declared, but he had a grin on his lips.
Maria stopped in front of Junnie and paused for a while to catch her breath. “I know.” She beamed. “Let’s go?”
Junnie nodded. They both then walked together to the building beside the park.
Maria had called Junnie that day if he could come with her to cheer on their friend Miles on his entrance exam at the university. She wanted to be there to support their friend, and also because Maria always wanted to see the guy she’s always liked take his entrance exam. And when Junnie agreed, she was happy and excited.
“Do you think Miles will pass his exam?” Maria asked as they walked.
Junnie laughed. “Of course. That smartass always pass his exams.”
Maria nodded with a smile.
“Isn’t that one of the reasons you like him?”
Maria’s smile went wider. Only Junnie knows Maria’s feelings for Miles. Even Miles doesn’t know. She nodded quite vigorously unintentionally.
Junnie smiled and watched as Maria got giddy at the topic. She loves talking about Miles. She always talk about Miles. And there’s nothing more that can make him happy than to see Maria smile like that…
“Well, you’re smart, too,” Maria continued on. “Why didn’t you join him take the exam?”
Junnie had his reasons. And one was that he cannot afford all the expenses. The other was that he would be kept apart from her.
He looked up at the sky and laughed. “If I did, then who’ll come with you to cheer on us?”
“That’s a shallow reason, Junnie.”
“I was just kidding.”
They both arrived at the university. They told the security that they’ll just be looking for their friend who’s taking the exam, and they were permitted inside.
“I wonder where Miles’ room could be…” Maria muttered to herself.
“We should have asked the guy earlier.”
The two walked on along the corridors and along the halls of the university.
While they walked, Junnie’s eyes fell on Maria’s hand. Her hand was just openly swinging beside her as she walked, and Junnie had this sudden urge. Without even thinking, he suddenly took her hand in his, and purposely intertwined his fingers with her.
Before he could even realize what he had done, they were already walking side by side, their hands locked together. All of a sudden, Maria’s fingers tightened on his. He looked up at Maria, but Maria wasn’t even looking. She was checking each door and peeking inside.
“Where could he be…?” Maria was still muttering.
Junnie blinked. She’s still looking for him? The scene at the moment confused him greatly. Even in just this small action, he was definitely confused. Did she acknowledge the hand? Or did she just thinking she was holding on to something else?
Still with intertwined fingers, Maria absent-mindedly tugged on Junnie’s hand. “He’s there! He’s there!” She hissed as she pointed in one room. As they peeked, they could see Miles diligently answering his test. And as she looked, Maria’s heart warmed at the image. “I think he’s doing great.”
Junnie wasn’t answering, so Maria thought he just nodded.
After a few seconds, Miles looked up and turned his head towards the door. He saw Maria’s and Junnie’s head peeking on the door window. He gave a slight smile and waved back at them.
Maria giggled like a child and waved back. “He saw us,” she said. Junnie still wasn’t replying.
She turned to him. “Yo, Junnie. Are you alright?”
Junnie had an impassive, straight face. And he was staring directly at her.
“Are you okay?” Maria repeated, worried.
He blinked, and nodded. Junnie was upset. He doesn’t even know if he’s upset or disappointed. But he sure do know that their hands were still together. And he didn’t want to let go until she noticed.
“Excuse me.”
The both of them turned to their side and saw a burly man in his security officer uniform.
“You’re not supposed to be here,” the man said.
“Oh? We didn’t know. We were let in.”
The man sighed. “That’s the new recruit. He’s new. He doesn’t know.” He looked back at them. “You and your boyfriend should go before some other officer kicks you out.”
Maria’s face crumpled. “Boyfriend? Sir he’s just my friend.”
The man raised an eyebrow, and his eyes moved down in between her and Junnie.
Maria followed the man’s trail of vision, and she saw that between them, Junnie and her, their hands were intertwined. Her heart stopped. Has she been holding his hand for a while? Why didn’t she notice this? And… why didn’t Junnie budge?
She looked up and saw Junnie’s eyes staring at the floor.
“He’s not your boyfriend?” the man pressed on.
Maria was still staring at Junnie. At that moment, she felt her heart explode with emotions. Confusion. Sadness. Anger. Disappointment. And none of them were positive.
Junnie kept on staring. He felt Maria’s stare on him. But he still didn’t want to let go, even if she noticed. He didn’t want to see her reaction, but her action shattered his heart even more.
“No sir, he’s not,” he heard her say, and she slowly slipped his hand away from her. His empty hand slumped back beside him. “I think I’ll go ahead.” She then proceeded to walk away at that instant, leaving him alone.
“What was that about, kid?” the man asked.
Junnie finally looked up, his face hardened from the brokenness. He shook his head. “Nothing, sir. Nothing of importance.” And he followed and walked away, with no intention of catching up to Maria.
luxicity. 